Lubricating means for sewing machines



June13,'1933. f 1 G. BQWMAN 1,913,914

LUBRICATING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES mmm w I Snventor *I L. G. BOWMAN LUBRICATING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINESy June 13, 1933.

Filed June 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittomeg Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS G'. BOWMAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS INVISIBLE STITCH MACHINE COMPANY, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, .A CORPORATION OF MAINE LUBRICATING- MEANS FOR SEWING- MACHINES Applicationv led June 23, 1930. Serial No. 463,217.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lubricating mea-ns for certain of the operating parts of sewing machines, although from certain aspects the invention is notlimited to such use.

In the accompanying drawings Figure lis a top plan view of a sewing machine, parts thereof being shown in section to better disclose my invention,

Figure 2 is a Vertical section taken on the v line 2 2 of Figure 1,

y Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the oil pump,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the connection between one of the wicks and one of the driven elements, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged View, partly in section, showing the pivotal connection between a driven element and the oil discharge tube.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my invention as applied to a sewing machine which includes a main frame comprising a hollow standard or casing 5, an overhanging arm 6 which -supports a stitching head 7, a front horizontal arm 8 which extends from the standard or casing 5 and parallels the overhanging arm 6, and a rearwardly extending- Work arm 9 which is adapted to contain one or more four motion loopers and a four motion feed dog. Journaled in the upper end of the hollow casing or standard 5 and extending `along the overhanring arm 6 is a main rotary shaft 10, and Journaled in the front horizontal arm 8 and extending into the front portion of the hollow casing or standard 5 are two rock shafts 11 and 12 respectively. Journaled on the rock shaft 11 is a sleeve 13 and journaled on the rock shaft 12 is a sleeve 14. The rock shaft 11 and sleeve 13 are provided for imparting the four motions to the looper or loopers, and the rock shaft 12 and the sleeve 14 are provided for imparting four motions to the feed dog. The rock shaft 11 and sleeve 13 are oscillated from the main shaft 10 through the medium of separate driving connections which are respectivelydesignated a, b, and the rock shaft 12 and the sleeve 14 are oscillated by separate connections which are respectively indicated by c, d. The connections a, b, c and d, each include an eccent-ricl 15 secured to the main shaft 10 and a driven element 16-such asvan eccentric strap or link which is directly connected to the eccentric. Each eccentric strap 16 is pivotally connected as at 17 to a link or arm 18 which is in turn operatively connected with the associated rock shaft 11 or 12, or sleeve 13 or 14, the connection b including an intermediate lever 19 and therefore an additional pivotal connection 17 is employed.

The bottom of the standard or casing 5 is sealed by a closure 20 and an oil supply 21 is located ,within the hollow casing or standard 5 and immediately above the closure 20. A wick 22 is associated with each of the pivotal connections 17, one end of the wick being disposed within the oil supply 21 and the other end being operatively connected to the pivotal connection 17 whereby oil Will by capillary attraction be fed upwardly along the wick for the purpose of properly lubricating said pivotal connection 17. It will be noted that the connections 17 are disposed above the oil supply, and that the main shaft 10 is disposed above the connection 17. The shaft 10 is located so far above the oil supply that practice has demonstrated that oil will not feed upwardly along the wick by capillary attraction from the oil supply tothe main shaft. An oil receptacle 23 is therefore mounted Within the upper end of the hollow casing or standard 5 at a point adjacent the shaft 10. A plurality of sections 24 have their lower ends located inthe oil within the receptacle 23 and have their upper ends respectively connected to the eccentric straps 16 so as to discharge oil from the receptacle 23 directly to the associated eccentric 15.

It will be noted that there is very little room between the main shaft 10 and the adjacent wall of the main frame and consequently an oil receptacle 23 of small capacity must necessarily be employed.

In order to avoid the necessity of frequent-- ly examining the receptacle 23 to see if the vwell contains sufficient oil, I have provided a means for automatically discharging oil from the oil supply 21 into the`oi1 receptacle 23.

'Io this end I have provided an oil pump X which I have located within the oil supply 21. This pump includes a cylinder 25 which is pivoted at its lower end through the medium of a horizontal pin 26 to a bracket 27 fixed to the closure 20. Formed in the lower portion of the cylinder is one or more ports 28 and this port, or ports, is always located below the oil level of the main supply 21. Mounted for reciprocations within the cylinder 25 is a piston 29 having an axial passage or bore 30. An oil discharge tube 31 has its lower end threaded into the upper end of the piston 29 and in registration with the passage 3() of said piston. This connection is maintained through the medium of a clamping nut 32. The oil discharge tube 31 extends upwardly and has its upper end portion 33 curved over the main shaft 10 so as to position the discharge end 34 of the tubedirectly above the oil receptacle 23. rIhe tube 31 is pivotally connected to one of the driving connections a, b, c, or d. This pivotal connection includes a block 35 having a shank 36 which is journaled in one of the pitmen 16 and is held against accidental displacement by a nut 37. The block 35 is formed with a recess 38 for receiving the tube 31 and a clamping screw 39 is threaded into the block 35 for engagement with the tube 31 so as to retain the same against movement relative to the block.

Consequently when the main shaft 10 is rotated the pump X will be operated to discharge oil from the main supply 21 into the receptacle 23 and thereby automatically maintain a suiiicient quantity of oil in said receptacle so as to permit the wicks 24 to properly feed oil from the receptacle 23 to the respective eccentrics 15. It will be observed that the pivotal connection between the oil tube 31 and the pitman 16 will move in a substantially circular path, that is, the pivotal connection has an up and down movement and also a lateral movement. rIhe up and down movement functions to reciprocate the piston 29 and the lateral movement is permitted by reason of the cylinder 25 being pivoted to oscillate about the horizontal pivot 26.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangements of partsv maybe variously changed and modied without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim 1. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a driven element operatively connected to said shaft, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent the shaft, a wick having Vone end connected to :neiaeie the driven element adjacent the shaft and having its other end located Within the oil receptacle for conveying oil from the receptacle to the connection between the driven member and the shaft, and a pump operated by the driven element for discharging'oil from the supply into the receptacle.

2. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil sup-ply therein, a shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a driven element operatively connected to said shaft, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply. and adjacent the shaft, a wick having one end connected to the driven element adjacent the shaft and having its other end located within the oil receptacle for conveying oil from the receptacle to the connection between the driven member and the shaft, a pump locatedin the oil supply and including a ported cylinder fulcrumed to swing about a fixed pivot and a hollowpiston reciprocable in the cylinder, and a tube pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the driven element for discharging oil from the supply into the receptacle, one end of the tube being rigidly connected to the pump piston and the free end over-hanging the receptacle.

3. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with 'a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a driven element connected to the shaft, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent the driven element connection with the shaft, a wick for carrying oil from the receptacle to the connection between the shaft` and the driven element, and a pump operated by the shaft for discharging oil from the supply into the receptacle, said pump including a ported cylinder and a cooperating piston located within the oil supply, and a connection between the shaft and the piston for reciprocating the latter.

4. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts j ournaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, an I oil receptacle disposed wit-hin the casing above the oil supply and adjacent one of the shafts, wicks for carrying oil from the receptacle to the respective driving connections, and a pump operated by one of said connections for discharging oil from the supply to the receptacle.

5. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, each connection including a pivoted element, the pivots being located below a horizontal plane containing one of the shafts, wicks for carrying oil from the main supply to said pivots, an oil receptacle located within the casing above the main suppl and adjacent the last mentioned shaft, wie s for carr ing oil from the receptacle to the respective rivinn,r connections, and a pump for discharging oil from the supply to the receptacle.

6. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, each connection including a pivoted element, the pivots being located below a horizontal plane containing one of the shafts, wicks for carrying oil from the main supply to said pivots, an oil receptacle located within the casing above the main supply and adjacent the last mentioned shaft, wicks for carrying oil from the receptacle to the respective driving connections, and a pump operated by one of said connections for discharging oil from the supply to the receptacle.

7 In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent one of the shafts, Wicks for carrying oil from the receptacle to the respective driving connections, a` pump located in the oil supply and including a ported cylinder fulcrumed to swing about a fixed pivot and a hollow piston reciprocable in the cylinder, and a tube pivotally connected intermediate its ends to one of the driving connections for discharging oil from the supply into the receptacle, one end of the tube being rigidly connected to the pump piston and the free end overhanging the receptacle. f

8. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, each connection including a pivoted element, the pivots being located below a horizontal plane containing one of the shafts, wicks for carrying oil from the'main supply to said pivots, an oil receptacle located within the casing above the main supply and adjacent the last mentioned shaft, wicks for carrying oil from the receptacle to the respective driving connections, a pump located in the oil supply and including a ported cylinder fulcrumed to swing about a iiXed pivot and a hollow platen reciprocable in the cylinder, and a tube pivotally connected intermediate its ends to one of the driving connections for discharging oil .from the supply into the receptacle, one end of the tube being rigidly connected'to the pump piston and the free end overhanging the receptacle.

9. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a driven element operatively connected to said shaft, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply for directing oil to the connection between theb driven elementl and the shaft, a pump located in the oil supply and including a ported cylinder fulcrumed to swing about a fixed pivot and a hollow piston reciprocable in the cylinder, and a tube pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the driven element for discharging oil from the supply into the receptacle, one end of the tube being rigidly connected to the pump piston and the free end overhanging the receptacle.

10. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts and respectively including an element driven by one of the shafts, an oil receptacle disposed within the Casing above the oil supply for directing oil to the connections between the driven elements and the shaft, and a pump operated by one of said connections for discharging oil from the supply to the receptacle.

1l. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts, each connection including a'pivoted element, the pivots being located below a horizontal plane containing one of the shafts, wicks for carrying oil from the main supply to said pivots, an oil receptacle located within the casing above the main supply for directing oil to the connection between the driven element and the shaft, and a pump for disharging oil from the supply to thereceptac e.

12. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, shafts jour-` naled in the casing above the oil supply, a plurality of driving connections between the shafts and respectively including an element driven by one of the shafts, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing aboveithe oil supply for directing oil to the connections between the driven elements and the shaft, a pump located in the oil supply and including a ported cylinder fulcrumed to swing about a fixed pivot and a hollow piston reciprocable in the cylinder, and a tube pivotally connected intermediate its ends to one of the driving connections for discharging oil from the supply into the receptacle, the end of the tube being rigidly connected to the pump piston and the free end overhanging the receptacle.

13. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with -a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, an eccentric fixed to the shaft, a pitman directly connected with the eccentric, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent the eccentric, means for conveyingoil from the receptacle to the eccentric, and a pump operated by the pitman for conveying oil from the supply to the receptacle.A

14. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a driving shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a rock shaft journaled in the casing above the oil supply, a driving connection between the shafts including an eccentric fixed to the driving shaft and a pitman engaging the eccentric, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent the eccentric, means for conveying oil from the receptacle to the eccentric, and a pump operated by the pitman for conlveying oil from the supply to the receptac e.

15. In a lubricating means for sewing machines, the combination with a hollow casing, of an oil supply therein, a shaft j ournaled in the casing above the oil supply, an eccentric fixed to the shaft, a pitman directly connected with the eccentric, an oil receptacle disposed within the casing above the oil supply and adjacent the eccentric, means for conveying oil from the receptacle to the eccentric, and a pump operated by the pitman for conveying oil from the supply to the receptacle and including a ported cylinder lo7 cated in the oil supply and pivoted to the casing, a piston operating in the cylinder, and an oil tube having its lower end fixed to the cylinder and its upper end overhanging the receptacle, the tube intermediate its ends being pivotally connected to the pitman.

n testimony whereof I affix m signature.

LOUIS G. B WMAN.

Lamela 

